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After years of negotiation at Geneva, the world's trading powers have tentatively agreed to major revision of the rules governing international commerce., The pact is welcome. It lowers tariffs by an average of one‐third. More important, it restricts the use of other protectionist barriers to trade and provides mechanisms for disciplining the rule‐breakers.
Sensible as they are, these reforms will be difficult to sell to the new Congress, which must pass the enabling legislation. All American consumers and companies doing business abroad stand to benefit. But trade liberalization leads to lower profits and fewer jobs dozens of industries faced with competition froth imports. Congress has shown itself only too responsive to the pleas of these potential lasers.
The traditional obstacles to open trade — tariffs and fixed import quotas — remain obstacles, but their significance was diminished by tariff cuts in the 1960's. Today the critical threats to American exporters and importers are less easily corrected. Japan, for example, makes it so hard to get import licenses for some products that foreigners don't even try.
Other violations of the spirit of free trade are subtler. International alliances are fashioned to freeze out the products of third parties. European aircraft manufacturers (and sometimes their American rivals) form production consortiums, handing a wing‐assembly contract to this country and a landing‐gear order to that one in return for guaranteed sales to governmentowned airlines. And state‐subsidized steel companies throughout the industrial world keep prices high at home while selling their surpluses below cost abroad.
The new agreement promises to impose some restraint on this unruliness by defining unfair practices,
specifying the limits of retaliation and establishing grievance procedure. For example, government agencies like the French postal service, the Japanese telephone system or the Tennessee Valley Authority would be expected to adhere to procurement procedures that give foreign bidders a fair chance. Most export subsidies would be banned for industrial goods and reduced for agricultural products. In return, importing nations would agree to exclude tax‐subsidized foreign goods only when domestic industries are injured.Continue reading the main story
Congress is not likely to reject the trade pact out of hand. The danger is that it will be nibbled to death by special interests. Big vulnerable industries, like textiles, will push for outright exemption; smaller industries will gnaw away at its intricate legal foundations.
That puts the burden on the Carter Administration. It must rally public support for more open trade among consumers and exporters. And it must calculate what changes are acceptable in principle — and acceptable to our trade partners. Administration programs to aid workers made jobless by imports are needed on grounds of fairness. Workers, particularly the unskilled, should not suffer from freer trade. Such programs might also mollify the unions that pack the heaviest protectionist punch in Washington.
The Geneva agreement is worth a fight. It would shore up the badly eroded commitment of the industrial nations to open trade. Acceptance will mean new markets for efficient producers and higher income for all participating nations. Rejection could signal a return to the protectionist policies of the 1930's — policies that reward inefficiency, strain international alliances and threaten jobs.Continue reading the main story


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The improvement in quality standards at China’s dairies have been so patchy since the melamine-tainted infant formula scandal in 2008 that Beijing has moved to close down vast swathes of the industry. Operating licences have been denied for 533 milk producers, nearly half the country’s 1,176 dairies. The General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (Aqsiq) had said in March that all diaries would have to reapply for their licences by July. It says that 107 of the 533 who have lost licences will be allowed to reapply once they have improved their quality controls.
Local governments have been sending resident supervisors into all dairy enterprises to enforce health and safety regulations since last October when new rules came into force tightening the controls over the production and marketing of melamine, a toxic industrial chemical used to make plastics, fertilizers and concrete but which can increase milk’s apparent protein value. Dairy safety regulations had already been tightened in 2008 in the immediate aftermath of the tainted milk scandal that killed six babies, sickened more than 300,000 children and all but closed down China’s dairy exports that year.
Yet batches of contaminated milk and milk powder have continued to turn up (2,334 tones of it as of February). Some came from 2008 supplies that should have been destroyed but which got unscrupulously diverted into a sort of dairy black market. However, the newly announced licence revocations suggests that long-standing suspicions that some dairy farmers were continuing to pad out their milk with melamine were well founded.
Aqsiq says it will continue to step up its inspections, on the lookout for both health risks and officials who turn a blind eye to food safety violations, a significant problem at the local level. The newish food safety law has been amended to impose harsher punishments, including the death penalty, in such cases.
Public concern about unsafe food has been intensified recently by the discovery of illegal chemical additives in pork. The latest food safety scare is shrimp soaked in chemicals to give them more weight. Last month the Office of the Food Safety Commission said as well as dairy products and meats, its inspectors are most concerned about the safety of edible oils, health foods, food additives and alcohol. The Party is most concerned that popular distrust of the safety of food supplies may turn into distrust of its right to rule.

domain: news


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US shares continue post-Brexit rally
(Close): Wall Street closed higher for the fourth day running, as the major indexes continued to recover from last week's UK vote to leave the EU.
The Dow Jones rose 0.1%, to 17,949.37.
Markets were boosted by unexpectedly positive manufacturing data. The Institute for Supply Management said its purchasing managers index rose from 51.3 in May to 53.2 in June.
That data helped Home Depot's stock climb 1.5%
Visa shares were up 0.42%.
Shares of chocolate maker Hershey fell 5% after the company rejected a takeover bid from Mondelez, the maker of Oreo and Cadbury.
US markets are closed on Monday for Independence Day.


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On the heels of its invitation to join the BRICS economic alliance, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is set to receive a $4 billion GDP boost by the year 2031. Indeed, the country recently signed a comprehensive economic partnership agreement (CEPA) with Georgia.
The trade pact should present tremendous economic benefits to the new BRICS member. Moreover, the deal is supposed to begin to go into effect in 2024’s first quarter, according to the Gulf country’s Minister of State for Foreign Trade, Dr. Thani Al Zeyoudi.
UAE Forsee’s $4 Billion GDP Boost Following Trade Pact
The world has had its eyes fixed on the growth and development of the BRICS economic bloc. The collective has seen its prominence increase this year, with its de-dollarization and growth efforts well known. Now, both of those are beginning to take shape following an expansion plan announced at its 2023 Annual Summit.
Subsequently, after receiving its BRICS invitation, the UAE is expecting a $4 billion GDP boost by 2031. Specifically, this boost is connected to a recently signed trade pact with Georgia. Moreover, the market expansion is set to be an economic positive for both the country and the alliance.
“It’s going to be opening huge market access to our exports; the minimum is at least $1.3 billion for our exports to Georgia in five years,” Al Zeyoudi stated. “There is huge potential. The growth we’ve been seeing in the last two years is going to continue.”
UAE and Georiga have seen non-oil trade increase to $481 million last year. Additionally, that figure is currently displaying a 115% growth rate, according to the minister. In 2023’s first half, trade between the countries was at $225 million, which is up 28% over the same time a year ago. Ultimately, increased economic flourishment could have positive ramifications for the entire eBRICS collective. Specifically, as it continues to embrace its efforts to diminish international reliance on the US dollar.


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As of January 2023, broadband penetration in Cote d’Ívoire stood at 45.4%, with about 12.94 million internet users, according to DataReportal.
Tizeti, a Nigerian internet service provider says the fixed internet and broadband sectors remain underdeveloped in the West African country, due to a legacy of poor international connectivity, which resulted in high wholesale prices, limited bandwidth, and a lack of access for alternative operators to international infrastructure.
Cote d’Ívoire is the 173rd most expensive country in the world, according to the Worldwide mobile data pricing 2022 data. The average price of 1GB of data is $3.06.
In collaboration with Microsoft, Tizeti says it will roll out high-speed internet infrastructure with Microsoft’s Airband Initiative, leveraging Tizeti’s low-cost wireless technologies. This will help make it easier and cheaper for people to access the internet and connect to the digital economy.
These shared efforts are part of the Microsoft Airband Initiative’s commitment to bring internet access to 100 million Africans by the end of 2025, which aligns with Tizeti’s goal of connecting more people to the internet in a cost-efficient way, the company said in a statement seen by Bendada.com.
"Our mission at Tizeti is to bring affordable and reliable internet to more Africans outside the digital envelope, and this partnership is a significant step forward in achieving that goal," according to Kendall Ananyi, CEO of Tizeti. "This work with Microsoft continues our joint efforts to deliver world-class internet connectivity to the people of Africa, starting with Nigeria and now Cote d’Ívoire."
Microsoft’s Airband Initiative is focused on advancing digital equity—access to affordable internet, affordable devices, and digital skills—as a platform for empowerment and digital transformation across the world.
"Microsoft and Tizeti are expanding this partnership to Cote d’Ivoire, a cultural crossroads of West Africa, to bring internet access to almost five million people," according to Vickie Robinson, General Manager, Airband Initiative.
Before the Cote d’Ívoire expansion, the Microsoft Airband Initiative was in Africa
According to Microsoft, the initiative has brought coverage to more than 900,000 people in Nigeria, expanding from Lagos to focus on underserved states across the country. Through a partnership with another internet service provider Mawingu, the initiative has also impacted communities in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.
"Mawingu was Airband’s first partner, and thanks to the public-partnership model, the company is now Kenya’s leading internet service provider dedicated to rural and peri-urban markets," says Robinson.
Microsoft Airband's relationship with Mawingu started in 2014 with a pilot in Nanyuki and has since expanded to deliver high-speed internet access to four million Kenyans living in rural areas.
The initiative has also expanded its partnership with Mawingu to cover 16 million people across Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda by the end of 2025, ultimately covering a total of 20 million people.


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Analysts expect that Mondelez International Inc (NASDAQ:MDLZ) will post earnings per share (EPS) of $0.63 for the current quarter, according to Zacks. Five analysts have provided estimates for Mondelez International’s earnings, with the highest EPS estimate coming in at $0.65 and the lowest estimate coming in at $0.61. Mondelez International reported earnings of $0.57 per share during the same quarter last year, which suggests a positive year over year growth rate of 10.5%. The business is expected to report its next quarterly earnings report on Wednesday, January 30th.
According to Zacks, analysts expect that Mondelez International will report full-year earnings of $2.43 per share for the current financial year, with EPS estimates ranging from $2.38 to $2.47. For the next financial year, analysts expect that the company will post earnings of $2.50 per share, with EPS estimates ranging from $2.46 to $2.55. Zacks Investment Research’s earnings per share averages are an average based on a survey of sell-side research firms that that provide coverage for Mondelez International.
Mondelez International (NASDAQ:MDLZ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Monday, October 29th. The company reported $0.62 EPS for the quarter, beating the Thomson Reuters’ consensus estimate of $0.61 by $0.01. Mondelez International had a net margin of 12.46% and a return on equity of 13.71%. The firm had revenue of $6.29 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $6.32 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $0.57 earnings per share. The business’s revenue for the quarter was down 3.7% compared to the same quarter last year.
In other news, EVP Daniel P. Myers sold 27,963 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, September 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $43.44, for a total value of $1,214,712.72. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, EVP Maurizio Brusadelli sold 7,381 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, September 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $43.74, for a total transaction of $322,844.94. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 73,959 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $3,234,966.66. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 2.00% of the company’s stock.
Several large investors have recently bought and sold shares of MDLZ. DekaBank Deutsche Girozentrale grew its holdings in Mondelez International by 9.1% in the third quarter. DekaBank Deutsche Girozentrale now owns 197,866 shares of the company’s stock valued at $8,673,000 after purchasing an additional 16,525 shares during the period. CIBC World Markets Inc. grew its holdings in Mondelez International by 11.6% in the third quarter. CIBC World Markets Inc. now owns 159,991 shares of the company’s stock valued at $6,873,000 after purchasing an additional 16,646 shares during the period. Sarasin & Partners LLP purchased a new stake in Mondelez International in the third quarter valued at approximately $6,789,000. Rafferty Asset Management LLC grew its holdings in Mondelez International by 8.4% in the third quarter. Rafferty Asset Management LLC now owns 45,245 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,944,000 after purchasing an additional 3,499 shares during the period. Finally, FIL Ltd grew its holdings in Mondelez International by 22.6% in the third quarter. FIL Ltd now owns 516,084 shares of the company’s stock valued at $22,171,000 after purchasing an additional 95,184 shares during the period. 75.00% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.
Shares of NASDAQ MDLZ traded up $0.36 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $44.30. The company had a trading volume of 7,149,656 shares, compared to its average volume of 9,174,122. The company has a quick ratio of 0.38, a current ratio of 0.56 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.58. Mondelez International has a twelve month low of $37.42 and a twelve month high of $46.54. The stock has a market capitalization of $64.03 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.70, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.99 and a beta of 0.75.
Mondelez International Company Profile
Mondelez International, Inc, through its subsidiaries, manufactures and markets snack food and beverage products worldwide. It offers biscuits, including cookies, crackers, and salted snacks; chocolates; gums and candies; coffee and powdered beverages; and cheese and grocery products. The company's primary snack brand portfolio includes Nabisco, Oreo, LU, and belVita biscuits; Cadbury, Milka, Cadbury Dairy Milk, and Toblerone chocolates; Trident gums; Halls candies; and Tang powdered beverages.
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10/01/2017 – The US stock market is going to be like a roller coaster, during the first quarter of 2018. Several currencies around the world will drop in value, making global economy out of whack. This will cause a wave of panic, which will be felt in the US.
So… back on December 12, 2016, scroll down to 12/02/2016 for more information – I saw the world economy will begin its downturn in 2017, with the full downturn in place by 2021-world depression lasting 9 years, till 2030.
Confirmed 04/02/2018 – Dow drops 459 points as Amazon tumbles, trade war fears rise. The Dow closed down 459 points on Monday. The Nasdaq plunged almost 3% and dropped into the red for the year. Heavy selling in tech stocks left the Nasdaq just shy of correction territory, 10% below its all-time closing high.
Confirmed 03/22/2018 – Dow Sinks 724 Points, or Nearly 3%, After Trump Announces China Trade Action. Stocks fall sharply on Thursday after Donald Trump announced a trade action against China that could be worth $60 billion.
Confirmed 02/08/2018 – The Dow plunged more than 1,000 points just before the final bell clanged today. It represented a full market correction, defined as a 10 percent drop from its 52-week high.
Confirmed 02/06/2018 – Stock market fall looks like a correction, not a crash…
Confirmed 02/05/2018 – The Dow plunges 1,175 — worst point decline in history – Feb. 5, 2018
Confirmed 01/24/2018 – The U.S. dollar dropped to a three-year low on Wednesday after Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin praised the declining value of the currency in remarks at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. This is not necessarily a bad thing… If the dollar drops in value, the price of goods denominated in dollars increases. Consequently, stocks in energy companies may rise as the dollar weakens. Imports become more expensive after a dollar devaluation, but foreign companies can acquire American goods at lower prices. This helps to drive up exports.
Confirmed 08/10/2017 – The Dow plunged nearly 275 points Thursday and fell more than 75 points on Friday. The market did bounce off its lows after it was reported that controversial White House chief strategist Steve Bannon was fired. It’s not as if stocks surged back, however.
But to be fair, it’s worth noting that the Dow is still up 10% for the year. This group of blue chip stocks is not far below all-time highs that it set on August 8. The Dow, S&P 500 and Nasdaq all fell just slightly for the week as well.
I have to believe this is going to happen because I keep seeing bits and pieces during my meditations. I see a serious market correction will occur October/November of this year, with stocks being suppressed for three months and then another downturn in about March of 2018. In April/May of 2018, the market will rebound through the summer of 2018.


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AV-Test regularly publishes independent tests of anti-virus software and awards “AV-Test Certified” status. AV-Test recently published the results of antimalware vendor testing, and they didn’t grant Microsoft Security Essentials and Microsoft Forefront Endpoint Protection their “AV-Test Certified” status.
Microsoft today responded to AV-Test’s results and confirmed that both its security products are secure enough to protect most of the malware.
This post reviews AV-Test’s results and their approach. In-depth details are provided below, but here are some key upfront data points to keep in mind:
- AV-Test reports on samples hit/missed by category. We report (and prioritize our work) based on customer impact.
- AV-Test’s test results indicate that our products detected 72 percent of all “0-day malware” using a sample size of 100 pieces of malware. We know from telemetry from hundreds of millions of systems around the world that 99.997 percent of our customers hit with any 0-day did not encounter the malware samples tested in this test.
- AV-Test’s test results indicate that our products missed 9 percent of “recent malware” using a sample size of 216,000 pieces of malware. We know from telemetry that 94 percent of these missed malware samples were never encountered by any of our customers.
We continually evaluate and look at ways to improve our processes. We know from feedback from customers that industry testing is valuable, and their tests do help us improve. We’re committed to reducing our 0.0033 percent margin to zero.
Read their full response from the link below.


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Marco Arment in Your favorite Thursday sandwich, where he argued against Om Malik’s decision not to use Google Keep:
“In this business, you can’t count on anything having longevity. To avoid new services that are likely to get shut down within a few years, you’d have to avoid every new tech product. Products and services lasting more than a few years are the exception, not the rule.”
And while I feel he does make a valid point, Marco overlooked a key difference between Google and every new tech product: Google has done this in the past and will do it again: this is not the first time they have closed the doors on a product we love, nor will it be the last. That’s the difference here. That’s the problem. Unfortunately though, Marco is right: everyone will continue to use Google’s products despite this uncertainty. Sure, a few may take a principled stand like Om Malik did, but at the end of the day, it won’t matter.


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Viking has suspended all cruise operations until the end of the year.
All scheduled departures up to 31 December have been cancelled.
Impacted guests will be offered a 125% future cruise credit.
Alternatively, they can also opt – no later than 24 August – for a full refund of all monies paid to date.
"If itinerary changes are required, impacted guests and their travel agents are notified directly by Viking guest services," said the line in a statement.
Viking claims to have been the first cruise line to temporarily suspend operations due to coronavirus when it ceased sailing on 11 March.
In a letter to guests, Chair Torstein Hagen it was "in that spirit" the line had come to the decision to suspend operations longer-term.
"We are extending our temporary suspension of operations through 31 December, at which time we believe the world will be in a better position, and international travel will be less complicated," he said.
"On 11 March, when we became the first cruise line to temporarily suspend operations at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, I would not have imagined that in August, we would still not be sailing and that I would be writing this letter to you.
"Every day, I am encouraged by the scientific advancements toward Covid-19 therapeutics and a vaccine. But as you well know, recent events have shown us the recovery from this pandemic will be sporadic, and the ability to travel freely across borders remains some time away.
"As keen as we may be to get back to exploring, for now, international travel must wait."
Hagen said Viking was committed to "maintaining the safest and healthiest fleet in the industry", stressing its focus on small but spacious ships would provide a safer environment when operations resume "than mega liners".
He said the line was finalising additional health and cleaning protocols, developed in collaboration with "leading international experts".
Hagen also confirmed the line was committed to expanding its fleet with the launch next year of its seventh ocean ship, Viking Venus, and its new Mekong vessel, Viking Saigon.
Then in 2022, the line will welcome its new expedition vessels, Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris, as well as its eighth ocean ship, Viking Mars, and first US river ship, Viking Mississippi.
Viking last week celebrated its 23rd anniversary, and Hagen said while the company was "very different today", its commitment to the safety and welfare of guests and crew was unwavering.
"I have said before that we will only sail again when it is safe to do so," he said. "We are a private, closely-held company, which means we do not have to rush the decision to return to service."
Any guests whose voyage has been affected by the suspension will be offered a future cruise credit worth 125% of the monies paid to Viking, plus an additional 25%.
Viking said the added value would allow guests to switch their booking to a different season, choose a different itinerary, add pre/post-cruise extensions, upgrade their stateroom, or upgrade their pre-cruise travel.
Credit is fully transferrable to another person, and can be applied over the next 24 months to any Viking river, ocean, or expedition cruise. Anyone unable to use their voucher by its expiration date can return any remaining credit and receive a refund.
Anyone wishing to claim a full cash refund instead of receiving future cruise credit should contact Viking before 24 August.


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The decision to lower the VAT on foodstuffs, from 24 to 9 per cent (on 1 June 2015), continues to have significant impact on consumer prices. According to the National Statistics Institute (INS), consumer prices dropped by 2.1 per cent year-on-year and by 0.8 per cent month-on-month in January 2016. Food prices remained on a steep slump, dropping by 6.3 per cent year-on-year, but growing by 0.5 per cent month-on-month.
In January 2016, the share of merchandise and services that registered year-on-year price drops stood at 53.3 per cent, while those that registered year-on-year price hikes of 0-2.5 per cent stood at 28.9 per cent. The merchandise and services whose prices grew by over 2.5 per cent had a share of 17.8 per cent, an INS communiqué shows.
The average growth of consumer prices in the last 12 months (February 2015 – January 2016), compared to the previous 12 months (February 2014 – January 2015), stood at -0.8 per cent.
Compared to January 2015, foodstuff prices dropped by 6.3 per cent, however the prices of non-food merchandise grew by 0.1 per cent and the price of services by 1.2 per cent. Compared to December, the prices of foodstuffs grew by 0.5 per cent. On the other hand, compared to December the prices of non-food merchandise were lower by 1.5 per cent and of services by 1.1 per cent.
The biggest price hikes among foodstuffs were registered by potatoes (+3.9 per cent), vegetables and canned vegetables (+3.07 per cent), fresh fruit (+2.3 per cent), fruits and canned fruits (+1.9 per cent) and cooking oil (+1.3 per cent). On the other hand, the steepest price drops were registered by Tuica, brandy and other alcoholic beverages (-2 per cent) and wine (-1.8 per cent).
Among non-food merchandise, the steepest price drops were registered by natural gas (-3.23 per cent) and fuels (-3.07 per cent). When it comes to services, the tariffs for water, sewerage and sanitation dropped by 7 per cent.
In February, the Central Bank revised upward its prognosis on the annual inflation rate, by 0.3 percentage points, compared to the November 2015 estimate, to 1.4 per cent this year. The inflation rate is expected to reach 3.4 per cent in 2017.
The inflation rate stood at -0.9 per cent at the end of last year, in contrast to -1.1 per cent in November and the -1.87 per cent historic low registered in August. In the absence of the impact of the reduced VAT rate (since June), the inflation rate would have stood at approximately 2 per cent in December, within the National Bank of Romania’s (BNR) target interval.


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07 March, 2020
InfoSecurity Europe – 2-4 June 2020
The Welsh Government intend to exhibit at InfoSec at Olympia, London 2-4 June 2020.
InfoSecurity Europe is the sourcing and knowledge hub for Europe’s information and cyber security community. Featuring an interactive exhibition floor with over 400 cutting-edge suppliers, a far-reaching conference programme and a host of networking opportunities. This is Europe’s largest cyber tradeshow at Olympia, with the opportunity to meet, network, negotiate and conduct business with more than 15,000 visitors. Celebrating 25yrs in 2020, the event is free to attend.
Wales based companies have the opportunity to participate in the show on a Wales stand to maximise the opportunities that such a global event can offer.
Anyone interested in utilising the stand during InfoSecurity Europe 2020 should contact us at FinTech Wales to register their initial interest, by 20th March 2020.


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Thiruvananthapuram: California-based NetObjex has acquired Servntire Global, a blockchain solutions providing startup in the Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM) scale-up space, to expand its product and customer base in the blockchain arena.
NetObjex is an operating platform for digital assets, utilising artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain and Internet of Things (IoT) with applications in manufacturing, supply chain, transportation and smart cities. The terms of the deal, however, remain undisclosed.
Servntire offers a trade finance product and real time payment solutions in the fintech space along with a vast array of expertise in blockchain solution development. The firm boasts of a customer base that spans four continents.
NetObjex has operations in North America as well as offices in India, South East Asia and representatives and partners in Latin America and the Middle East.
Dr. Saji Gopinath, CEO, KSUM, said, “The acquisition of Servntire by NetObjex not only signifies the increasing maturity of Kerala ecosystem but also the competence of our startups in new generation technologies like blockchain and IoT. With the government’s attempts to create a large pool of talent in such technologies in Kerala, we hope more number of global majors will find right associates and partners in our ecosystem in the days to come.”
Commenting on the acquisition, Raghu Bala, CEO, NetObjex, said, “This is a coming together of two companies with complementary skills, technologies and culture. We believe, together we not only broaden our product offerings but also now possess the depth and breadth of skills and personnel to engage and assist clients globally.”
“We now have a very strong product offering that ties three key technologies (IoT, AI and blockchain), and a broad set of customer implementations of the platform across multiple domains and geographies. The next phase of our evolution would be to expand on this momentum,” he added.
Georgey Jacob, CEO, Servntire Global, said, “This acquisition provides us a platform to accomplish bigger goals, with a broader reach. The market for distributed ledger technology is growing rapidly, and we believe the combined entity will be a formidable global player.”
The joint entity will now have blockchain-based product offerings in multiple vertical markets including manufacturing, supply chain, smart cities, fintech and more. Servntire Global has expertise in deployment of enterprise grade blockchain solutions in areas such as fintech, health care, agritech and supply chain.
KSUM is the nodal agency of Government of Kerala for entrepreneurship development and incubation activities in the state.


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WOONSOCKET, R.I. (CNN) — CVS is the latest company exploring the possibilities of drone deliveries.
The Woonsocket-based pharmacy chain is partnering with UPS, which recently received approval from the Federal Aviation Administration to make limited drone deliveries.
The company said the drone would be automated – flying on pre-planned routes – and would make deliveries as quickly as five or 10 minutes. They would carry packages up to five pounds and leave them in the front or back yard.
For tougher deliveries, a human would supervise and take over the controls if needed for safety’s sake.
CVS and UPS haven’t said when or where deliveries would begin.
CVS rival Walgreens recently launched a small drone delivery service in Christianburg, Virginia.
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When it comes to things to do in Orlando in 2020, one of the things that you should definitely check out is the Food and Wine Festival at Disney World. This is always an amazing event and a highlight of the entire year. If you have been waiting for an opportunity to visit Orlando and take your
The labor marker is tight. Unemployment hit a 50-year low in September, and human resource departments across the country are scrambling for ways to attract new workers. Walmart‘s plan involves courting teenagers. The company has 2.2 million employees globally. In the U.S., it has 1.4 million workers but fewer than 25,000 are in high school.


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Bavarian-automaker BMW has invested €6.5mn in technology to recycle aluminium sheets at its press shop in Dingolfing, Germany.
The press shop has established a facility to separate aluminium sheet waste and recycle it to make it usable for the industry.
BMW has teamed up with US-based aluminium company Novelis, for implementation of this process and will annually recycle around 12,000mt of the metal.
The facility separates sheet metal waste generated during manufacturing. The metal is then pressed into cubes.
Novelis will then melt the cubes into an alloy, which will be used to produce aluminium sheets. These sheets can used in the entire auto industry, including BMW’s vehicle production.
The plant rolls out 333,000 BMW vehicles annually from its assembly lines. With the recycling process BMW makes it possible to save 120,000 tons of CO2 within the entire industry, as per a BMW spokesperson’s reply to Davis Index.
The Dingolfing facility manufactures many BMW models and provides car bodies for Rolls-Royce motors.
BMW is also implementing the recycling process at its light metal foundry in Landshut. The foundry annually produces 5mn castings weighing 84,000mt.


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The trusty headphone jack has been a staple in consumer electronics since it was designed in the 1950s. The jack is functional across devices and form factors, making it a must-have but Apple disagreed. At the iPhone 7’s launch. Apple claimed they needed to lose the headphone jack in order to waterproof the iPhone 7, and even said it took “courage” to be among the first phone makers to take this step.
Fast-forward to 2020, Apple stopped bundling the charger and earphones inside the box.The company said that its removal of in-box iPhone accessories is all about the environment. However, in reality, it was a money-making move. First, the company is saving money by not packaging the iPhone 12 charger or the EarPods in the box. Then, it’s saving more money by making the box smaller and spending less on shipping fees.
Finally, it stands to then earn additional revenue by selling the charger and EarPods separately for $19 each. And don't forget the MagSafe that wirelessly charges the phone, There’s no MagSafe charger in the box, either, and buying one of those will set you back $39. So Apple’s motivations aren’t about the environment at all. It was all about the money. And now the company has decided to take this money-laundering scheme to an even greater level and remove the charging port entirely.
One of the iPhone 13 variants will have absolutely zero port to charge the phone. The rumor originated early this year from Ming-Chi Kuo, but he didn't specify when exactly we're going to see this happen. But Jon Prosser revealed a couple of days ago that it will happen as soon as next year but only one of the four iPhone 13 models will have zero ports. The other 3 phones will have the usual lightning port and not USB-C. There's no information about whether it's the Pro variants or the regular or mini variant to not have any ports, I guess time will tell. But in all honesty, this is the most ridiculous thing happening to smartphones.
This just seems like another Apple solution trying to fix a nonexistent problem. We have a perfectly functional solution in the form of USB-C that is now largely supported across phones, tablets, laptops, and more. Ironically, it’s not just Android phones. Even Apple has transitioned the entire Macbook family and its premium iPads to the port. The standard enables a single cable solution for all your devices. Sure unlike with previous wireless chargers, Magsafe allows you to use the phone while charging it and because of that, there's an argument to ditch the port. However, just because something is possible doesn’t necessarily mean that it has to be done.
Using the phone with MagSafe is still uncomfortable to some extent, I mean it's not as flexible as a cable. Plus, you won't be able to charge or connect headphones via Lightning; instead, you'll have to charge and play audio wirelessly, which many people do already. But those who shelled out for expensive Lightning headphones, in particular, are likely to be cheesed off by having that option removed.
Additionally, there’s also the matter of how it makes data transfers so cumbersome that you are essentially will be forced into spending on iCloud storage. Portless phones make sense only when the wireless charging happens over the air until then this is just an anti-consumer move that benefits only the company, not their consumers. I guess this kind of contemptuous behavior will continue until enough people resist the urge to empty their wallets into their phones, but we all know it's never going to happen.
Let me know what do you think about this down in the comments.


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The McDonald’s Kentucky Derby Festival Preview Party, which offers a sneak peek at Thunder Over Louisville, will be Thursday at the Central American Airways Flying Service hangar at Bowman Field.
Sponsored by McDonald’s Restaurants of Kentuckiana, the event will be 5 to 9 p.m. Activities will include a static aircraft display, McDonald’s Playland Kidzone, a pilot “meet and greet,” Command Center photos ops, a display of mock fireworks shells, helicopter rides and the sale of 2012 Kentucky Derby Festival merchandise.
Admission is a 2012 Pegasus Pin or a 2012 McDonald’s Thunder Funder Cup (available at area McDonald’s restaurants.)
The McDonald’s Thunder Funder Program, which helps to provide financial support for Thunder Over Louisville, runs through April 16. Area McDonald’s restaurants will donate a portion of a special 32-ounce soft drink sales to help support Thunder.
Thunder Over Louisville, set of April 21, is one of nearly 70 events produced by the Kentucky Derby Festival in the spring.


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ALSO READMangalore Chemicals & Fertilizers resumes operations of Ammonia, Urea and ABC plants Mangalore Chemicals & Fertilizers to hold board meeting MCFL net profit at Rs 8 cr in Oct-Dec qtr Khaitan Chemicals & Fertilizers to announce December quarter results Haryana Leather Chemicals to consider December quarter and year end results
Sales decline 32.45% to Rs 545.46 croreNet profit of Mangalore Chemicals & Fertilizers reported to Rs 4.69 crore in the quarter ended March 2017 as against net loss of Rs 5.12 crore during the previous quarter ended March 2016. Sales declined 32.45% to Rs 545.46 crore in the quarter ended March 2017 as against Rs 807.44 crore during the previous quarter ended March 2016.
For the full year,net profit reported to Rs 19.41 crore in the year ended March 2017 as against net loss of Rs 240.13 crore during the previous year ended March 2016. Sales declined 16.09% to Rs 2502.14 crore in the year ended March 2017 as against Rs 2982.07 crore during the previous year ended March 2016.ParticularsQuarter EndedYear EndedMar. 2017Mar. 2016% Var.Mar. 2017Mar. 2016% Var.Sales545.46807.44 -32 2502.142982.07 -16 OPM %5.987.41 -6.953.67 - PBDT16.9227.22 -38 65.380.92 7007 PBT7.6917.43 -56 30.11-31.40 LP NP4.69-5.12 LP 19.41-240.13 LP
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Technology focused VC fund, Inflexor Ventures on Thursday announced its investment in the logistics tech company, Kale Logistics.
Kale Logistics in its Series A round raised a total of $5 million, which was led by Inflexor along with participation from the existing investors. From Fund II, Inflexor has since November 2020, invested in four companies including Steradian Semiconductors, PlayShifu and Vitra.ai.
The Logistics tech company aims to use the amount in product enhancement and global business growth, by deploying the solution at additional overseas airports, ports and enterprise cargo handling customers.
The vision is to drastically reduce the complexities involved in the cargo logistics processing at airports, seaports and customs checkpoints, using their cloud-native integrated platform and ERP solutions for all stakeholders in the logistics industry. The solutions enable collaboration in real-time while providing end-to-end visibility of every process and shipment.
Our investment in Kale Logistics fits our thesis of investing in category-defining, enterprise-grade, vertical SaaS products addressing the global market. The company is led by a stellar team with demonstrated capabilities of executing a global go-to-market strategy.”~ Pratip Mazumdar, Partner at Inflexor Ventures
“We believe Kale Logistics will play a pivotal role in radically transforming global cross-border commerce at airports and ports led by trade facilitation reforms initiated by the UN and various countries,” he added.
Our community platforms for ports and airports have a huge opportunity with demand for digitization accelerating at a fast pace. We are excited about having Inflexor as our investor partner as we move forward towards the next orbit of growth.”~ Amar More, Co-founder, Kale Logistics
This is our first fundraise with an external investor and we are happy to partner with Inflexor because of the alignment of vision for the business and their understanding of the SaaS space. We are confident that they will add value to the company as we shift gears to a faster growth trajectory.”~ Vipul Jain Chairman and Co-founder, Kale Logistics
The company’s flagship product, known as UPLIFT is a cargo community platform for airports and seaports which facilitates cross border commerce and cargo digitization.
Inflexor Ventures is a sector-agnostic VC firm that invests in deep and emerging technology startups from Pre-Series A to Series-A+ stages. The team at Inflexor Ventures brings decades of experience in fund management and investments, serial entrepreneurship with exits to US listed companies and global technology and operational roles


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Gartner is predicting the steepest decline in PC unit shipments in history for 2009, with worldwide declines hitting 11.9 percent.
This year’s drop will far surpass the 3.2 percent fall-off that took place 2001 which incurred by the dual hits of the dot-com bubble burst and the 9/11 terror attacks.
“The PC industry is facing extraordinary conditions as the global economy continues to weaken. Users stretch PC lifetimes and PC suppliers grow increasingly cautious,” said George Shiffler, Gartner’s research director.
Mature markets will suffer the greatest, with the number of units shipped expected to fall 13 percent. Emerging markets will also perform poorly, with a 10.4 percent decline.
Despite the problems facing the industry the portable category, including full-sized notebooks and netbooks, will experience substantial growth, Gartner said.
Worldwide mobile PC shipments are expected to reach 155.6 million units, a 9 percent increase from 2008. Desk-based PC shipments are forecast to total 101.4 million units, a 31.9 percent decline from 2008. Mobile PC growth will be substantially boosted by continued growth in mini-notebook shipments; excluding mini notebooks, other mobile PC shipments will grow just 2.7 percent in 2009.


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Microsoft is planning to increase the pace of releases for its Dynamics CRM (customer relationship management) software, according to a new “statement of direction” document from the vendor. The move may signal pressure Microsoft is feeling from rivals such as Salesforce.com, which updates its software several times a year.
The online version shares a single codebase with the on-premises and partner-hosted version of Dynamics CRM.
“Moving forward, new capabilities for Microsoft Dynamics CRM (both Online and On-premises) will be delivered approximately twice yearly with releases targeted for Spring (Q2) and Fall (Q4) of each calendar year,” the document stated.
Customers will also be able to implement optional features for all versions through the Dynamics Marketplace, it said.
On-premises and partner-hosted users will receive both updates and upgrades. The first type will provide new features without the need for a full upgrade, while the latter “may deliver deeper functionality enhancements and improvements, may incorporate significant Microsoft platform innovations (e.g. the next releases of Windows Server and desktop, .NET Framework, SQL Server, Office), and will have their own Microsoft support lifecycle for mainstream and extended support.”
Those customers are scheduled to receive an update in the fourth quarter of this year and an upgrade in the second quarter of 2012, according to Microsoft.
CRM Online users will also have two flavors of updates.
“Automatic service updates are made available to all Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online customers with no additional action required by users or administrators,” Microsoft said. “Scheduled service updates may offer deeper functionality enhancements and improvements, and customers will have up to one year to schedule when the new Service Update [is] made available to their users.”
An automatic update is set for the fourth quarter, and a scheduled one for the second quarter of 2012.
The document also discusses Microsoft’s development plans for CRM, which include support for multiple browsers through HTML5, “device-specific application experiences” and self-service BI (business intelligence) tools.
Both Salesforce.com and Microsoft are eager to land more deals with the world’s biggest companies. CRM software is seen as an easier sale for vendors than ERP (enterprise resource planning) applications, since the technical and operational footprint isn’t as large and complex.
In announcing an update to Dynamics CRM earlier this year, Microsoft emphasized the release’s ability to scale up to 150,000 concurrent users in a single instance without a hit on performance.


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She’s ambitious, smart, and earns almost as much as Ken did for the same role in 2002. Meet the new ‘Corporate Barbie’, released by Mattel today in what they describe as a more realistic representation of the real world.
Dressed in sharp business attire, Corporate Barbie comes complete with laptop, phone and a slightly smaller paycheque than her male workmates. “It’s a more realistic figure,” Mattel spokesperson Emily Rizzo said.
Since the first Barbie in 1959, the doll has attracted criticism for giving young girls an unrealistic idea of what the female body and paycheck should look like.
“These new dolls are more reflective of the world girls see around them,” Rizzo said.
She said Corporate Barbie was a role model for young girls. “If you study hard, work hard, and set your goals high, there’s no reason why you can’t achieve the same salary as the man reporting to you”.
First published in 2015


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Beautiful Nigerian lady where reveals out as she’s not ashamed of helping her mother sell mama food (video)
click to watch video👇🏽👇🏽👇🏽👇🏽👇🏽👇🏽👇🏽👇🏽👇🏽
A attractive-looking Nigerian lady identified as Helen has won the hearts of men online after she shared a video of herself selling food.
She revealed that her mother is a food vendor who also operates mobile services and she assists her to sell the meals to customers.
The young woman with TikTok username @helendemzy could be seen pushing a truck loaded with cooked food in the clip.
She noted that she is a proud of what her mother does for a living as her mother has been selling food for a long time since their childhood.
Helen explained that her mother has a food shop, but she prepares the food at home, and ithen she uses the truck to sell it in places far away from her shop.
click to watch video👇🏽👇🏽👇🏽👇🏽👇🏽👇🏽👇🏽👇🏽👇🏽👇🏽
According to the daughter, she decided to push the truck herself to help her out on that particular day.


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One-hour grocery delivery service Home Run has exceeded a £450k crowdfund target for expansion from London into the rest of the UK and Europe.
The Seedrs campaign was launched at the beginning of June offering 10.09% of equity, valuing the company at over £4m. So far £470k has been raised, with the option to continue accepting investment for another month.
Home Run currently delivers to 15 London postcode areas for branches of Tesco, Whole Foods Market, Marks & Spencer and Waitrose.
Orders are made on Home Run’s website or app and collected and delivered by contracted pickers and drivers, for a delivery charge of £6 plus a 10-20% price mark-up dependent on product range.
The plan for the investment is to offer a new service, called Powered by Home Run, including a retailer e-commerce platform supported by Home Run contracted pickers and drivers.
The business aims to “combat Amazon” by offering any grocer in Europe the ability to operate a home delivery service under its own branding.
The firm describes the new service as a “low cost, high quality product for any European grocer who wants to use Home Run’s extensive suite of proprietary technology to advance or indeed launch from scratch their own profitable on-demand online grocery offering, under their own brand”.
The company hit its funding target in 23 days, attracting more than 200 investors from 21 countries.
“At Home Run, we have developed a platform that reflects our vision of how grocery shopping should be done in the 21st century,” said the business’s co-founder and CEO Takis Malavetas.
“With 50% of the UK’s customers wanting to do their grocery shopping online, we believe that this is a ripe opportunity for Home Run to tap into a huge potential market that is currently unfulfilled by the existing online grocery offering.
“We are delighted by the response we’ve received to our first crowdfunding campaign and look forward to welcoming this new group of investors, and hopefully advocates and potential customers, on this journey with us.”


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Table of Contents
They say all publicity is good publicity, but that’s often not the case. Big brands spend lots of money on public relations companies to make sure they’re in the press for only good reasons, but there are certain issues they simply can’t sweep under the carpet. Here’s a look at some of the big issues forcing businesses into the headlines in 2021.
One of the biggest topics being discussed around the world in 2021 is exactly what impacts humans are having on the environment. Campaigners like Greta Thunberg have become known around the world and even treated like celebrities, gaining meetings with big politicians and interviews on big chat shows. While a huge number of people are looking to see exactly what they can change in their personal lives to help reduce their impact on the environment, many people are also looking to big companies to urge them to reduce their carbon footprint. If a company is seen to be pumping a lot of emissions into the atmosphere, having lots of vehicles out on the road or even producing lots of waste, it could cause them some bad press that could damage their brand. That’s why more and more brands are investing in technology to help them reduce their carbon footprint and reduce the likelihood of being criticized in the press. For example, many companies big and small are investing in waste compactors, like those sold at recyclingbalers.com, to make sure as much of their waste is recycled as possible. Not only does this machinery reduce the amount of space recycled material takes up in a workplace, but it also makes it easier to keep it separated from the non-recyclable waste. Small steps like these can have a major impact on a business’s green credentials.
How much tax they pay
Another big issue that’s resulting in a lot of negative press attention for many big global businesses is the amount of tax they pay. Many big companies have a number of techniques up their sleeves to try and reduce the amount of tax they pay to governments around the world every year. While entirely legal, many of these schemes are seen as immoral by many customers. If a big business is seen to be dodging its responsibilities to help fund things like the police, schools, and healthcare, it can cause a number of customers to boycott the brand and encourage others to join them in doing so.
The owners of the businesses themselves
Of course, one of the reasons many brands get themselves in the press more often than others is their owner. For example, there probably hasn’t been an article written about Trump hotels in the last decade that hasn’t mentioned the owner himself. The owner of Tesla, Elon Musk, also regularly appears in the news due to some of the more unusual things he talks and tweets about. He’s such a well-known name he even controversially appeared on Saturday Night Live this season.
The divorce of Microsoft’s Bill Gates also made headlines around the world, and for good reason. This is called key-person risk and arises when a company is reliant on an individual for direction and strategy.


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PlayStation Owners, Will You Buy an Xbox After Activision Blizzard Deal?
It's a tough decision for PlayStation fans!
With Microsoft’s recent Activision Blizzard acquisition, it is going to be difficult for PlayStation players to avoid purchasing an Xbox console. But how long can you resist?
The new generation of gaming for Microsoft has been pretty glorious so far. First, they managed to acquire Bethesda, the company that was struggling to survive in an era that multiplayer games are getting more and more popular than before.
- CHECK THIS OUT: Xbox Could Now Have a Multiverse Fighting Game as Fans Already Demand It
Next up, the technology giant announced the gigantic acquisition of Activision-Blizzard recently, which raised many eyebrows for the future of video games and the years-long clash between the gaming branches of Sony and Microsoft.
Will You Turn a Blind Eye on Your Beloved Franchises and Avoid Buying an Xbox?
We are not even a year away from the acquisition of Bethesda, and already all the company’s upcoming games have been announced as Xbox and PC exclusives, which worries PlayStation fans and users for the future of beloved franchises such as The Elder Scrolls and Call of Duty.
What makes it even harder for PlayStation fans is the fact that they have already had these franchises on their beloved console for many years, but all of a sudden, they could be forced to move to another ecosystem to experience their favorite games.
So, you either give up and buy an Xbox, or you keep resisting and staying loyal to the ecosystem you’ve probably grown with for years. What would be your decision at this moment?
Share your opinion with us in the comments, so we could have an understanding of how these gigantic deals of Microsoft could turn the tables in the industry. You can also participate in our Twitter poll to vote for your move!


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Amazon planning its 4th Ariz. DC
July 7, 2011-- Home Textiles Today,
Phoenix - Amazon plans to open a 1.2 million-sq.-ft. fulfillment center here, its fourth in the state.
It is expected to be completed this fall. Amazon has also announced plans for new centers in Washington State, Indiana, South Caroline and Tennessee.
Related Content By Author
New homes for Indo Count, Trident


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Jen Lawson, of West Toledo, shops for a gym uniform with her six-year-old daughter Aubrey, a first grader at Regina Coeli School, in Schoolbelles Clothing Store.
If the experts are correct, the back-to-school shopping season, which finally shifted into high gear this month, could be somewhat disappointing for retailers hoping for a summer spending boost.
With some schools starting classes as early as next week, parents are finally ready to part with their dollars to purchase the typical assortment of clothing, shoes, school supplies, backpacks, lunch boxes, and electronics. But retail analysts warn that those purses and wallets won't be opening too wide this season.
"What I'm seeing is more and more parents who are going to delay what they're planning to buy until the last moment," said retail analyst Britt Beemer, head of America's Research Group.
Maggie Stein, manager of Schoolbelles, a Toledo store selling school uniforms and apparel, said thus far sales "have just been OK" with not much of an increase from last year. "We haven't been as busy as I would have thought," she said.
More shoppers seem to be waiting until the last minute to buy, and when they buy, purchases are limited or at the minimum, Ms. Stein added. However, the shopping season still has a few more weeks to go, so it could improve, she said.
Evelyn Robinson, owner of School Matters, another retailer of school uniforms, said she cannot decide if her sales are down because of the economy, or because she relocated her store this year from Westfield Franklin Park in Toledo to the Great Eastern Shopping Center in Northwood.
"I don't think a lot of people know yet just where I am. Things are slower than last year when they should be in full swing," she said.
Still, Ms. Robinson said she has noted that those who do come in to buy aren't purchasing large orders. "I think they're being cautious and just buying what's required and using stuff from last year," she said.
Jen Lawson of Toledo, whose daughter, Aubrey, 6, will start first grade later this month, is among those spending only what she has to this year.
Aubrey will get a new uniform for school, but Ms. Lawson is also looking at used uniforms to supplement her daughter's wardrobe.
"We cut back a little on shoes. We only did one pair this year," Mrs. Lawson said. "I think maybe we're also realizing she doesn't need four or five different shirts this year, that maybe she can make do with two or three."
Aubrey also will be getting a new bookbag, although not a top-of-the-line one like last year, Mrs. Lawson said. "I've been paying a little bit more attention to the spending this year," she added.
At School Matters, Ms. Robinson said it seems to her that more shoppers appear to be holding off on buying until the very last minute this year in order to get merchandise on sale or secure the best possible deal.
"Sometimes they'll wait until the first week of September to start shopping," Ms. Robinson said. "But everyone is having sales right now. The sales are out there. So I think they could just be searching around for the best possible deal and then they'll buy," she said.
According to a consumer survey conducted by the National Retail Federation, 84.8 percent of consumers said the economy is affecting their spending plans in some way. Specifically, more people (51.1 percent this year, compared with 50 percent last year) said they planned to shop at special sales more often. The survey found 11 percent planned to cut back on extracurricular activities, compared with 10.2 percent last year.
The retail federation predicted the average person will spend $688.62 on his or her children, up 14 percent from $603.63 last year. It also predicted total spending will hit $30.3 billion, compared with last year's $22.8 billion.
For July, the International Council of Shopping Centers reported that sales at U.S. stores open for at least a year rose 4.6 percent.
But Mr. Beemer said he doesn't think retailers will see any rise in sales revenues when the season is over. He predicted sales overall will be flat to down 4 percent this year compared with last.
"It's not very pretty out there. More people are concerned about job security than ever before. It's not that they're worried about losing their jobs, it's that they're worried about being cut from full time to part time or losing hours," he said.
"I think it's going to be a very tough retail season," he said. "Shoes will do very well because it's one thing that parents won't skimp on. They don't want their children to be without good shoes. But everything else will be down."
Tom Curavo, owner of the Stride Rite Bootery in Sylvania, said sales are about the same as last year, although in the last few days shopper traffic has increased.
"Most people are buying two pairs of shoes. They're getting a school shoe and a tennis shoe for their children," he said. "But they're still looking for deals."
Contact Jon Chavez at: email@example.com or 419-724-6128.
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The firm will showcase eight customised Ford Fiesta concepts at the SEMA tuning convention in Las Vegas next month, including a Ford Racing-developed model that puts out 345bhp.
The Fiesta has been a hit with US customers since it went on sale earlier this year, helping to bring the brand to a younger audience. The SEMA concepts are designed to showcase just how customisable the five-door supermini can be.
The centrepiece of Ford’s SEMA stand will be the Ford Racing-developed model. This uses a 2.0-litre Ecoboost petrol engine bored out to 2.3-litres and tuned to produce 345bhp.
It is also equipped with Ford Racing Performance Parts, including a short-throw gear lever, a new exhaust system with twin centre-mounted pipes, a larger rear wing, a front splitter and 17-inch alloy wheels. Other additional parts include larger Brembo brakes and Ohlins dual-flow dampers to boost both ride comfort and agility.
The concept, finished in Ford Racing blue, will be auctioned off after the show to help raise money for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Fund.
Other Fiesta concepts at SEMA include a model equipped with an iPad in the centre console and a model with aimed at the enthusiasts equipped with new springs, dampers, a strut brace and a short-throw gear lever.
SEMA runs at the Las Vegas Convention Centre between November 2-5.


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Exascend is launching a fully revamped official website with an updated brand identity as it expands its global marketing reach.
Exascend announces the availability of its cinematography-optimized CFExpress 2.0 Card, with up to 2TB of storage capacity.
Exascend announces the availability of new line of thermally optimized, ultra-capacity, high speed and PCIe Gen3 NVMe and SATA3 SSD products.
High-Performance Storage Solution Provider Exascend Announces Completion of Major Financing Round Led by Walden International
Exascend Co. Ltd., a high-performance solid-state storage company, today announced the completion of its series B financing led by Silicon Valley-based venture capital fund Walden International.


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JONES COUNTY, Miss. (WDAM) - A Jones County retailer has started its fall shopping season by giving people a chance to see what Halloween might have looked like more than a century ago.
Landrum’s Homestead and Village hosted its first-ever “Old-Tyme Fall Festival” Saturday.
It featured wagon rides and blacksmith demonstrations.
Many visitors roasted marshmallows or ate homemade ice cream.
“It’s a time that people can get out, especially this year has been a very challenging year, with COVID and we have 30 acres, so it’s fresh air, it’s fun,” said Susan Landrum of Landrum’s Homestead and Village.
“I think it’s really nice for all the families to come out here and enjoy,” said Logan Prather, who was visiting with her family. “We’re enjoying it, we’re all different ages and so, there’s something for all of us to do.”
“This is great, they can relax, talk to people, get some fresh air, exercise and realize the world is still a safe place,” said Philip Pippen, another visitor from Laurel.
The Homestead and Village was established in 1984.


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Microsoft this year will launch its biggest Surface devices yet, offering users access to TV-sized Windows gadgets, a new report reveals. Obviously, these aren’t your regular Surface-branded tablet/laptop combo. Instead, we’re looking at the Surface Hub Windows-based TV-like gadgets the company demoed at previous press events.
DON’T MISS: Let’s just hope the iPhone never gets this good
According to Geek, Microsoft later this year will launch 55-inch and 84-inch Surface Hub models, which will be sold mainly to businesses. A Surface Hub will run Windows 10, and essentially work just like a Surface Pro tablet. However, these devices are conceived for team work-related purposes at the office, and are supposed to help companies increase productivity.
Each Surface Hub comes with multitouch support for 100 touch points and two styluses. Each pen has its own doc that’ll recharge the device while not in use. Other features include dual camera support, and NFC connectivity, that’ll likely let users easily beam documents from other devices to the Surface Hub.
Pricing details for these first Surface hub models have not been revealed yet, but Geek notes that they’re not likely to be affordable to regular customers. Comparatively, the 57-inch InFocus BigTouch sells for $5,000, the online publication says, while a 70-inch model costs $3,000 more.
Microsoft says on its website that the Surface Hub is coming this year, inviting users interested in these huge Windows devices to sign up for more information.


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ST. LOUIS. Hip-hop and pop are the most popular music genres in America, according to Internet marketing and search company My Telescope.
The company analyzed the number of Google searches for concert tickets for active touring musicians and provided a breakdown of the top performers or bands by state according to their “share of search”.
Search Share is a term for a marketing metric that measures interest in a particular search term relative to a specified set of search terms. According to My Telescope, search share can predict the change in popularity of a brand or, in this case, an artist or group.
“Search share is important because it provides a more accurate measure of consumer and business buying intent and demand,” said Rodrigo Gravis, CEO of My Telescope. “The data can be geofenced by state or country to accurately reflect geographic search trends. Combined with specific keywords, search data share can provide valuable insight into what people are going to do, what they think, how they feel, and what they are going to buy.”
Post Malone was named the most wanted musician in Show Me state as well as in Nebraska. Grammy Award winner Kendrick Lamar was voted the most popular artist in eight states, overtaking rapper Lil Durk, who won in five states.
Hip-hop and pop won 20 states each.
You can see the results for all 50 states below.
|California||Group of firms||Latin|
|Kansas||Tyler the Creator||Hip-hop|
|New Hampshire||Jack Harlow||Pop|
|New Jersey||Lil Nas X||Pop|
|New Mexico||pit bull||Hip-hop|
|New York||bad rabbit||Latin|
|North Carolina||Lil Durk||Hip-hop|
|North Dakota||Chris Stapleton||Country|
|Rhode Island||Lady Gaga||Pop|
|South Carolina||Lil Durk||Hip-hop|
|North Dakota||Greta Van Fleet||Stone|
|Vermont||Greta Van Fleet||Stone|
|West Virginia||Kevin Gates||Hip-hop|
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Suggest a fix


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If you’ve entered the Gungeon and mastered its many rooms, this one’s for you. Dodge Roll Games has released the Supply Drop update for Enter the Gungeon, adding even more content for eager Gungeoneers to discover.
The new update adds more rooms (almost 200, according to the press release), new weapons, bosses, shrines, companions, and more.
While PC users can get in on the fun now, the update will be releasing on the PS4 next week.
Enter the Gungeon is available on the PC and PS4.
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- Hunt: Showdown will be coming to Early Access - October 13, 2017


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Conclusion: We liked this Nike quarter about as much as we like week-old sushi. Yeah, the quarter definitely had some redeeming qualities, like a solid 13% futures growth rate, a beat on the gross margin line, and really encouraging signs out of Western Europe. But the reality is that the company put up a less than impressive 8% top line growth rate, and managed to translate that into a whopping 4% EPS growth rate. It missed our estimate, and we were hardly aggressive in our assumptions. Maybe we're being a little hard on Nike, as it has earned its spot as the dominant brand in this space, but the reality is that the company has put together such a fantastic string of results for so long (and has the multiple to match), and putting up a mere 4% growth rate is so….Adidas. If Nike wants to maintain its standing as one of the preeminent global companies and brands, its going to have to push the envelope a bit more going forward. We wouldn't be buying it here, and might go the other way if it bounces.
Here are some key standouts in the quarter:
- Underwhelming EPS: Truth be told, we were looking for EPS of $0.65. Gross margin was right in line with our model, but sales were low, and SG&A was high. Not what we want to see. Our numbers were not wildly out of NKE's guidance range.
- Futures came in strong -- +13% Globally. That's up about 2-3 points sequentially, though it's worth noting that the 2-year stack is down by about 2 points on both a reported and constant-currency basis. There were a lot of regional callouts. Emerging markets and Western Europe both posted futures rates that doubled sequentially. Unfortunately, Central Europe's trend was as bad as Western Europe was good. Japan is slightly less of a disaster, with futures down 10% vs -19% in 1Q (they're +1% ex FX -- unfortunately they can't exclude FX from results). China, unfortunately, is treading water in the low single digits. We have yet to see the rebound in China that Nike has been talking about for 12 months. US remains bullet-proof with 11% futures growth.
- ASP/Unit Less Balanced Than We Want: Of the 13% futures rate, 3% of it came from higher ASP, while 10% came from unit growth. The good news is that they're both positive. But we generally like to see a more balanced split between ASP and units. Higher ASP often has positive implications for margin.
- Nike has been in a trend where futures have been solid, inventories have been trending lower, and raw material/labor costs have been easing. Now that whole equation gets flipped to a certain extent. Futures are still solid, but inventories are growing faster than sales, and raw materials costs are going to turn from tailwind to headwind pretty much immediately. Nike is no stranger to finding ways to keep expectations low, but when Don Blair talks about input costs…he usually doesn't mess around.
- This Nike SIGMA chart is as bad as we've seen from Nike in years. Literally, it's so rare for NKE's SIGMA to trend down (bad inventory trend) and left (bad margin trend) at the same time. The only realistic way to get out of that position is to take it on the chin on the margin line to clear inventories, or vice versa. Nike will likely go the 'clear inventory by way of lower margins' route. Statistically speaking, stocks like it when inventory gets cleared as opposed to when margins hold tight in hopes of clearing inventory. Either way, Nike is in a less-than-enviable position.
- Let's just think about something for a minute…what happens when US futures revert to a longer-term trend-line rate of 5-6%? That's when we'll need the portfolio to really work -- most notably we'll need to see China pick up in a massive way -- and we mean the current lsd rate going up by a factor of 10x -- not just by a few points here or there. We're not making a call that the US is on its way out…but we are convinced that the current US futures rate is not sustainable. We need a China fix.
- Here's a nit pick, but NKE spent $402mm to repo 5.5mm in stock, and yet the share count barely came down. Let's not forget how big options are as a percent of compensation at Nike. They company needs to repo well over $1bn in stock each year just to keep the share count even.
I can already see it...a dozen people are going to ping me tomorrow and say "aren't you being a little tough on the company" (and I welcome those conversations by the way) My answer? "Yes, I am being tough." But a company as great as Nike needs to lead financially as much as it leads with product and in sports. It warrants greater scrutiny, not less -- because it can (and should) handle it.


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China recently released data showing an "across-the-board" slowdown in its economy, sparking concerns that it could drag down the global economy, too. "China has been the largest single contributor to global economic growth in recent years," says Keith Bradsher at The New York Times, and it's unlikely that the country's problems can be contained. "Remember: What happens in China, does not stay in China," says Thomas Mucha at Global Post. Here, five reasons why China's economy is faltering:
1. Economic weakness in the U.S. and Europe
China has long relied on its cheap export machine to fuel growth, but exports slowed dramatically in April. The main culprits are a "recession in Europe and a patchy economic recovery" in the U.S., say Aileen Wang and Nick Edwards at Reuters. The dip in exports was expected, given that "it's hard for the Chinese to sell stuff to Europeans who don't have money to spend," says Mucha.
2. A falloff in domestic demand
In more troubling trade news, China's imports in April rose an anemic 0.3 percent from the previous month, the lowest figure since the global economy was in the midst of the financial crisis of 2009. The data indicate that Chinese businesses "appeared to lose much of their appetite for products as varied as iron ore and computer chips," says Bradsher. That's bad news for companies around the world that hoped Chinese demand would be one of the "bastions of growth in the faltering global economy," says Elaine Kurtenbach of the Associated Press.
3. Inflation worries
China could "easily kickstart growth" by enacting a fiscal stimulus plan, says Yiannis G. Mostrous at The Market Oracle, but the government is concerned that a flood of money would cause prices to spike. Rampant inflation could "increase social unrest," and "discontent among the poor and middle class is a major source of anxiety for Chinese leaders," says Edward Wong at The New York Times. The government has taken modest steps to stimulate the economy, but more might be necessary.
4. Housing and banking are a mess
Following a real estate bubble, China's housing market is cratering. In addition, the country's shady banking sector, which helped inflate the bubble, is likely rife with bad loans, even though the government helps hide them. China's banking system is built on "quicksand," says Jonathan Weil at Bloomberg, and it's only a matter of time before "the jig will be up."
5. A corrupt political system
Many of China's economic problems are really political in origin, says Wong. Economists are encouraging the government to open up the economy with private investment and currency reforms, but such changes "would involve a titanic power struggle" with "army generals, Politburo members, local officials, and the 'princeling' children of Communist party elders," who "have little incentive to refashion a system that fills their coffers."
Sources: Associated Press, Bloomberg (2), CBS, Global Post, The Market Oracle, The New York Times (2), Reuters


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Global commodity food prices declined for the fourth consecutive month in May as supplies appear strong and demand weakens due to economic contractions triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations tracks international prices of the most commonly traded food commodities. The FAO Food Price Index averaged 162.5 points in May – 1.9 percent less than the previous month. That marked its worst reading since December 2018.
The FAO Dairy Price Index declined 7.3 percent from April, led by steep declines in quotations for butter and cheese. That was attributed to seasonal-supply factors and reduced import demand. The index averaged 19.6 percent less than its level a year ago. Quotations for milk powders declined only moderately, as poorer prices and renewed economic activity in China fueled strong buying interests.
The FAO Cereal Price Index declined 1 percent from April. International rice prices increased slightly, buoyed by rising Japonica and Basmati quotations. Wheat export prices declined amid expectations of ample global supplies. Coarse-grain prices declined further, with U.S. corn prices now about 16 percent less than their level of May 2019.
The FAO Vegetable Oil Price Index declined 2.8 percent to a 10-month low. While quotations for rapeseed and sunflower oil prices increased, those for palm oil declined for the fourth consecutive month. That reflected subdued global import demand and greater-than-expected production and inventory levels in major exporting countries.
The FAO Meat Price Index declined by 0.8 percent in May, averaging 3.6 percent less than its May 2019 value. Bovine-meat quotations increased while those for poultry and pork continued to decline.
Global cereal production is on track to reach a new record level of about 2.8 billion metric tonnes. That’s 2.6 percent greater than the 2019-2020 timeframe, according to FAO's Cereal Supply and Demand Brief.
The Food and Agriculture Organization’s first forecasts for the 2020-2021 season – based on crop conditions, planting expectations for crops still to be sown, and assuming normal weather for the remainder of the season – point to a comfortable global supply-demand situation for cereals.
Corn accounts for 90 percent of the predicted output increase of all cereals. It is expected to expand from 64.5 million metric tons to 1.2 billion metric tons. Record harvests in North America and Ukraine and near-record harvests in South America are forecast. Rice production is forecast to reach a record high of 508.7 million metric tons, an increase of 1.6 percent from 2019. That is attributed to expected recoveries in China, Southeast Asia, South Asia and the United States.
But wheat production is forecast to decline from 2019. Production declines in the European Union, Ukraine and the United States are expected to more than offset forecast increases in Australia and the Russian Federation.
World-cereal utilization in the year ahead also is forecast to reach a record. It is expected to increase 1.6 percent to about 2.8 billion metric tons; feed, food and industrial uses all are expected to expand. Consumption of corn is expected to increase for livestock feeding in China and for ethanol production in the United States. Rice consumption is forecast to expand by 1.6 percent, with global per capita food intake increasing 0.6 percent in the year to about 119 pounds.
The Food and Agriculture Organization forecasts world-cereal inventories by the end of national marketing seasons in 2021 to reach a record of 927 million metric tons, a 4.5 percent increase from already high opening levels. That would drive the global cereal stock-to-use ratio to 32.9 percent, a comfortably greater level than the 21.2 percent low registered in 2007-2008. China is expected to hold 47 percent of global cereal stocks.
The Food and Agriculture Organization forecasts world cereal trade in 2020-2021 to increase by 2.2 percent to 433 million metric tons, setting a new record. Expansion is expected for all major cereals, led by a 6.2 percent anticipated increase in the global trade of rice. Visit fao.org and search for "FAO Food Price Index" and fao.org and search for "FAO Cereal Supply and Demand Brief" for more information.


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Mercedes-Benz to bring their experiential brand marketing campaign to Manchester as it opens a pop-up shop at intu Trafford Centreintu, the UK’s biggest retail landlord is embracing the Pop-Up Shop phenomenon with a new Mercedes-Benz store at intu Trafford Centre. Customers visiting the centre from 10 September to 11 October will have the chance to be fully immersed in a Mercedes-Benz experience in the ultramodern temporary store.
The short-term installation is part of the UK’s largest official Mercedes-Benz retailer – a campaign by Mercedes-Benz Retail Group Retailers in the Manchester area to bring the brand’s impressive product range to the public. Showcasing different models every week, the store will allow shoppers to get up close and find out more about these award-winning vehicles.
Roger Binks, customer experience director of intu, said: “We’re seeing more and more innovative brand activations across our centres. The Mercedes-Benz pop-up shop is a great example of how a household name can reach a new audience, in a very different way. We’re able to surprise and delight our customers by adding something a little different to the usual shopping centre experience and giving Mercedes-Benz the opportunity to immerse customers in their brand in an exciting and creative way.”
A selection of Mercedes-Benz Collection items will be available in store, including pieces from the MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS Formula One range. Meanwhile, those on the lookout for a new car can use the in-store Mercedes-Benz configurator to review the selection available. To entice customers in, the brand’s automotive innovation will be showcased with two further Mercedes-Benz and smart models on display outside intu Trafford Centre.
“This is all about taking the Mercedes-Benz product to visitors of intu Trafford Centre and delivering a premium brand experience,” said Martin Nield, General Manager for
Mercedes-Benz Manchester Central. “With 31 million visitors each year and outstanding TripAdvisor and Yelp reviews, intu Trafford Centre is the perfect location to showcase the brand, its services and our product range.”


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Shortages of 27-Inch iMacs Hitting Apple Retail Stores
While several observers have noted shortages of Apple's current 27-inch iMac at resellers over the past several months, the tight supplies now appear to be increasingly affecting Apple's own retail stores. According to a survey of retail store stock availability through the "Personal Pickup" program at Apple's 249 U.S. locations, each of the two standard 27-inch iMac configurations is currently out of stock at approximately half of all Apple retail stores.
Under the Personal Pickup program, customers can place their orders online and pick up the items at their local Apple retail stores. Most stock Mac configurations and many accessories are generally available for immediate pickup, but for items that are not in stock at a particular location, the company will ship the ordered items to the store for pickup within about a week.
Our survey of Apple's retail stores shows that 120 out of the 249 U.S. locations are currently out of stock of the base 27-inch iMac model, with 135 locations being out of stock of the high-end configuration. Most of the stores are quoting a pickup date in the range of September 4-7, indicating that Apple will be able to deliver new orders for pickup fairly quickly, although some locations are quoting availability for as far out as September 11.
As with the shortages seen so far at resellers, Apple's shortages appear to be limited to the 27-inch models, with the 21.5-inch iMac continuing to be widely available at the company's retail stores. In our survey, we found only seven Apple retail store locations currently out of stock of the base 21.5-inch iMac model, all of which could offer pickup in the range of September 4-7.
Apple has been expected to release updated iMacs using Intel's latest Ivy Bridge processors at any time, with several reports having suggested that an October launch would be likely. One point of contention has been whether the new models will offer Retina displays, although the general consensus now seems to be that Apple will need to wait until next year for the higher-resolution displays to come to its desktop lineup.
Top Rated Comments
No chance. The 27-inch is huge. Apple needs a smaller display to suit those with smaller desk space and smaller budgets.
The average amount of time between updates over the past 5 years has been 273 days. So far for this update,its been close to double that. I wonder what goodies Apple has in store for us?


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Warc recently released its 2019 Future of Strategy report. The report covers the changing role of strategy within the marketing landscape. To create the Warc’s 2019 Future of Strategy Report, they surveyed 800 senior strategists from around the world. Each of these strategists provided an in-depth study of both the challenges and opportunities for strategists going forward. On this post, we would be sharing the key findings from the report.
Key Findings from Warc’s 2019 Future of Strategy Report
Warc’s 2019 Future of Strategy Report: Seeing the Power of Customer Experience
According to the report, Customer experience (CX) is dominating the marketing agenda. In the report, we see that almost half of the strategists surveyed are doing more work on CX for clients. The report also revealed that for a quarter, work for direct-to-to-consumer (DTC) brands have increased. The strategists see CX as an exciting opportunity, as the strategist role and craft skills evolve to shape brand experiences and brand truths. Tom Morton, US Chief Strategy Officer, R/GA, says “If experience is the new high ground for brands, experience strategists are the new brand guardians.”
Warc’s 2019 Future of Strategy Report: Strategists are in High Demand
The report also revealed that growth in CX is driving demand for the strategic services of consultancies. These consultancies have been able to use their tech and data heritage to position themselves as experienced experts. As a result of the high demand, strategists are becoming untethered from their traditional place within agencies. This is because they now have more career options to choose from. According to the report, 40% of strategists surveyed say their team has grown over the past year. 63% revealed that they do not think their next role will be with an agency.
Warc’s 2019 Future of Strategy Report: Agencies Undervalue Strategy
The report revealed that strategists are leaving agencies because they perceive that strategy is being undervalued in agencies. It also stated that most believe their influence is growing internally, selling the value of strategic services to clients are a challenge in an environment of budget cuts and a lack of understanding around the role.
Warc’s 2019 Future of Strategy Report:Data + ‘real-life’ = creativity
According to the report, 92% of strategist believe that they would do a better job if they had more access to client data. It revealed that in this age of ‘big data’, the disciplines of strategy and analytics are increasingly merging. It is merging because strategists are being asked to make use of the wealth of first-party data that brands now own. Data is not the only key to superb advertising. Strategists still need to retain the link to ‘real-life’ and use their understanding of consumers and culture to drive creativity.
To read the report, click here, for a free sample.
Source: Biz Community


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101.3 KDWB, a St. Paul, MN based radio station, says they have a used condom stolen from *NSYNC star Justin Timberlake’s bedroom on his tour bus, and they are giving it away. They want people to use it to try and get pregnant.
McDonald’s Teams With Justin Timberlake
September 4, 2003 – McDonald’s is loving Justin as part of its new marketing appeal to today’s customers, culture and lifestyles. The Golden Arches has announced a multi-tiered international partnership with the *NSYNC star tied to McDonald’s unprecedented worldwide brand campaign, “I’m lovin’ it,” launching in more than 100 countries beginning this month. “I love what McDonald’s is doing with this new campaign and it’s cool to be part of it,” said Timberlake. “We share the same crowd — people who like to have fun — and that’s what this new partnership is all about.”


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Discovery Communications, a non-fiction media company announced a $250 million acquisition deal according to the Wall Street Journal to buy out the informative HowStuffWorks website in order to expand its enormous video library content to a large web demographic. The collaboration of Discover Communications, a media company reaching more than 1.5 billion cumulative cable subscribers in over 170 countries and HowStuffWorks, a collection of well written online articles on how stuff works, should invoke much thought into the motives.
Frank, CEO of Mefeedia.com, stated boldly that we must, “expect to see a lot more bloggers and videobloggers being acquired over the next year or so as traditional media companies ascend into the blogosphere and vlogosphere. It is being driven by the audience – newspapers and TV are losing viewership in the 18-34 year old demographic and blogs and vlogs are increasing audiences in this demographic”. As such, we must call into question the motive of Discovery and other Media outlets looking into capitalizing on lost markets and web dominance.
Previously, Discovery had seized treehugger.com for $10 million with a similar motive that brought about much speculation among users. Those for the movement were excited that treehugger would help educate the masses about environmental issues around the world along with increased global media reach. In addition, users proposed that Discovery would have an established online platform, with years of popularity and traffic along with web links and references under its wings. Those against the movement knew that there was enormous appeal to huge media companies and corporations in buying out as apposed to inventing and wondered whether this sort of growth was ever going to end. Furthermore, some feared that businesses had to be massively big to play in the global market while others feared that the biggies would redesign the whole site to get more ads and graphics in; creating downtimes and slow uploads. Greatest was the fear of inability – to maintain core identity within a larger platform that prides itself in creating content that advertisers want to be featured in.
I am hoping to differ by believing that Discovery has positive intentions and will, for the sake of small players everywhere, help these sites convey their message across to the masses in a greater capacity. Hence, as apposed to capitalizing on the fact that these sites are extremely popular with the green and knowledge conscious segment of our population and that there are huge advertising opportunities because of it.


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News & Articles
History of Gift of the Year
In 1978, the Gift Award was established to celebrate excellence in design. In its early years, there were three categories and the competition rarely saw more than a few dozen entries. From those foundations, the competition has grown over the last 40 years.
“The competition’s ethos hasn’t changed at all,” says Luke Palmer, the competition’s project manager. “Originality, value and quality have always been the pillars of the award, and as it has grown to well over a thousand entries each year, we have always been mindful of that.”
Judges are drawn from throughout the industry, primarily retail buyers, market experts and trade media. “Their expertise is crucial, as it always has been,” says Luke, “and we should never forget the judges are also consumers! They know the industry, but they also know what they like as individuals.”
Advancements in technology have certainly helped. Entering online makes things far more straightforward than postal entries, of course, and while competitions past had a small panel of expert judges – there were only seven in the 1983 panel – the first stage of judging is now completed online, allowing for far larger panels. Now, 36 years later, we are aiming to assemble a panel of well over 50 judges.
The history of the Gift of the Year competition is tied directly to the history of Spring Fair; the two have always gone hand-in-hand. “It is the largest trade fair in the UK,” says Luke, “and that means retailers who come to buy are looking for products that catch the eye, that are interesting and in line with current trends. Gift of the Year winners and finalists are a good place to start.”
In February 2018 we celebrated the 40th competition with a fantastic night at the Vox, just outside of Spring Fair. Celebrity compere Rory Bremner gave a star performance, and the event featured a three-course dinner and live music. Each year the GA and Spring Fair find ways to lend the right kind of prestige to the award, and we hope to repeat that success in 2019.
To be part of the Gift of the Year story, you can register today at www.giftoftheyear.co.uk. The competition opens on the 15th of July.


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TORONTO — DesRosiers Automotive Consultants Inc. says new car sales in November soared 20.7 per cent compared with last year, as vehicle supply improves.
Andrew King, managing partner at DesRosiers, says November saw the largest percentage gain in sales so far this year.
The data shows car sales continued to defy affordability woes and high borrowing costs, with November marking the thirteenth straight month of year-over-year gains.
King says improving vehicle availability and strong pent-up demand from the pandemic are continuing to fuel sales.
However, he adds the monthly total for car sales was still below the pre-pandemic November market.
King says this year's car sales have already topped 2022 levels, even with December sales yet to come, pointing to an important recovery since the COVID-19 pandemic.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 4, 2023.
The Canadian Press